New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-20


more carefully and also slower, for were being
dragged at headlong speed over track that d'd
not deserve the name Of road. being but a series
Of holes and slOushs OF mud.
The man ans wered in patois | did not under
stand, and only whipped his horses into more
furious pace. | looked out for Serge, but ne ana
his telega had disappeared. By the fading light
saw we were surrounded by forest AS lar as eye
conld reach were intermnable vistas OF stuntod III
trees We were evidently traversing one OF those
desoate tracts that in some parts OF Russia extend
over thousands of Yersts, and through wnlcn. one
may travel for hours without finding human haoi-
tatiOn.
A sudden terror seized me. Two women in such
lonesome place. absolutely IN the power OF snch
wild creature as the driver. who now, by i0ud cries
and fierce gestures, was urging his horses 10 III
creased exertion Again | called to him. and now
to entreat to be taken back TO the village We had
left II would be better TO endure miseres we knew
rather than continue this journey through so darh
and ugly forest But my entreaties were useless
Tie man either could not or would not undcrstahu
Why had | allowed Serge to goI why lhleed nau
he left us in such postionf Ala. we were hoip'
less We could but be patient and nope the pest,
drilling rain was now falling. AIDING 10 TIE
gloom of approaching night. To give myself cour-
age and also to comfort Sarah told her OF our I'M
expected good luck III finding ourselves SO near an
old friend, for were going to Countess Narlscks
Sarah expressed ne,I Sont Comforts we shond
have later. and SO oonsoled ourselves LOT presoh'
pains. $3.50
Countess Nariscka is such true friend" sald !.
and she is so accustomed to English ways that
dare say we shall find ourselves quite at home AZ
Vloyna and So 80 -, ,,,
was going on, when Sarah with a stiled shrek
caught my arm. Oh dear Miss Selma, nv dear.
dear child. don't go therel Whatever we DO Iont
go there You think can't understand, but 90.
horrible place. People shuddrr when IT is spoken
Of For Gods sake, don't go there ana Sarah.
trembling violently. held me tight in gan agony Oh
Such words were not only unexpected shock,
but Dire adful one till. remembering my dear oId
fiend. could not believe they could relate 70 hr'
q T.ll oil EpoW Mt L.. ".
What have you heard What do you know
Closely did crossquestiOn Sarah. but her answers
" ere both incoherent and incredible. l gathered.
however that her alarm was pr ncipally caused by
fear of ghosts, VAN pires and such other EVIL crea
to res so, knowing that like many dlghlanders sue
was a profound believer in witchcrait, EVIL onens
and sinister portents. nv mind was somewhat re-
lie we'd.
In little mere than another hour we were evil
dent,y approaching the confines CT the forest.
Large irregular patches OF ill-cultiyated ground
were now visible in the moonlight. Here and there
was n miserable howell. but at this hour Of the night
neither man beast was seem As we passed
through the collection Of cabins that might be
called the village. we could hear in tho sheds an
occasional staining OF horses feet and from the
dwellings alongsl larger though scarcely per
haps more oleany than the stables. we could also
hear the heavy snores of their probably INTOXICATED
owners. The place we had left was squalld ana
wretched bnt how much better tnan that where
we now were! But a short distance from the VII
are appeared great mass OF on,d.ngs an do .s
and entering courtyard, drer no before the DOR
tico of an immense house, palace apparently IN
The white facade gittered in the moonli ght
great pillsrs encircled the cot IT. but the same ght
show ed how RI med and dilspdaied were the buid
| incs and oil the many ornaments belonging 10
them The plaster was peeling of the walls OF ne
pillars many were broken; some, indeed had
| fallen, and were lsing unheeded on the ground.
! The wooden root was partly bleached from age
and was partly green from tho mass OF weeds and
moss it'll which It was in many places covered
Several of tho windows were boarded In short,
| this grand house was but fitting adjunct To- the
wretched village that belonged 10 II. Everything
testified to hopeless neglect The very air seemed
| tainted by the monld and decay around.
| Alas poor Nadine. can this be your home
| thought IL was pteous TO think one 80 brilliant
80 gifted calculated TO shine IN the world, should
he compelled TO pass even portion OF her liie 10 so
deplorable dwelling, ard gave sigh Tor her
and another for myself. that We should he Obliged
TO remain. even one night, IN place tbat seemed
| little better than n ruin.
| several servants IN shabby lveries appeared.
| and WAS conducted into tho house OF which tile
interior was more comfortable and better kept than
the exterior led TO expect The vast salon INTO
| which | was ushered looked, however very bare
| and cherries but then the five large windows
| without curtains or blinds allowed tho dismal
landscape without 10 be seen in all its drearness
| Immediately beneath these window, was sort OF
garden. IL ragged patches of grass.a Few ha'iompy
flower beds and some groups OF stunted bushes can
| deserve to he called. Bet"een this aud the dark
lineof forest the moons rays giitered upon Hundry
| patcbrs Of water s.agnant pools oozing from the
DOGGY ground, and tho moonlight mingling wiih
the ight Of the lamps in the salon. gave curiOusiy
| weird character to the desolate scene.
Nadine Fedoroyna will speedily wait upon her
| Excellency." said n servant.
| | Inurmnred the necessary ciyllltles IN reply,
though feeling somewhat PANIED at so cercmonion'
and chilling n reception from frirnd once so
much attached to me. For some minutes after tue
| servant left ] waited patiently; but as time went
on and the mistress Ct the mansion did not appear
became nervous and uneasy. So, rising from my
| chair, ! began pacing mp aud down the immense
! APARTMENT The floor and walls were of yellow
| marble huge chairs. sofas and tables were
arranged along these wal OF other signs OF habl
,Io Inf tha Nga IN n
| agreeable from the glded stove that stood In one
corner
| hal made a few turns and was at tho extreme
end Of the room when heard approaching foot
stems | turned quickly the doors were thrown
open somewhat ceremon onsy 10y chamberlain OF
groom of the chambers, with other servants, aud a
/ stoo1 pelrifed. Conld this be Nadnei This
| aged, yellow, faded womAni She was wrapped in
dressing-gown OF magnificent Blk; Costly lace
hung about Ler arms aud throat but gown ana
lace had been carelessy thrown on, ana her han
had been negligently twisted beneath chenille
net. Round her waist was knottei a common rope.
and TO this was attached multitude OF crosses aid
little images of saints, some adorned with Jewels OF
considerable value others cOarsely fashioned IN
lead OF tin. Her whole appearance was untldy and
! il-caIed for; but il was tho changed face thai
struck me with such infinite pam and amazement
The brilliant, wild. bright beauty had absolutely
gone. Not "a trace was left. Sallow aud sunken
the lovely countenance had lost all its fresh
and beautiful outlines The features were exag
gerated tho nose punched the mouth swollen tho
cast in the eye quite bewiching IN its strang,
pecnlIarty. was now simply o defect and deform
ity. The figure had lost all youhfulness of shape
and the hair streaked with many lines OF
white.
But even worse than the loss OF b~auty
was tine haggard expression, the hopeless misery
denoted by that caiewOrn face IL told alike o
severe physical pain and even greater mental suffer
ing. was stricken dumb. ] was motionless viii
amazed distress. But great my surprise, my
pain. II seemed nothing as compared with that d
Nadine.
She stared ut me for a moment in bewidered
astonisbnent then throwing her arms wildly in
the air she uttered n sharp cry.
"Merciful Heaven Is it possible, can IL really
be Selma Browniow !"
In spite of the cry, the ANA cement the chan ged
person, recognized the loving feeling Of my old
friend 1 fastened toward Der. | seized her ont
stretched bands | kissed her with the hearty
enthusiasm of old DAYS
"Dearest Nadine say Mt any rate you are glad q
see your old. old Lima once again; but have you